by Jenny Golding
Updated: 19 February 2024
James Hertnan was an ex-private of the 21st Fusiliers and became one of the little Irish community established by Thomas Little in Dardanup.
He came to the Swan River Colony on the Jane on the ninth of September 1833 and, at first, worked as a government gardener.
He bought 100 acres of land on the Preston River, selling to William Forrest in 1849.
He also had titles to thirty acres of land in Wellington in 1855 and another 50 acres in Wellington in 1868.
In a letter, dated 17 March 1857, Father Garrido wrote to Ann Hays
At your request, I have spoken of your wish to obtain employment at Dardanup and I am happy to inform you that Mrs Hertnan is willing to employ you at one pound per annum wages. A cart is going down to the Vasse and you can take the opportunity to come up in it.
Richard Dillon married Maria Hertnan in Dardanup in 1851.
James Hertnan died in 1877 and his widow required “poor relief” before her death in 1892.
George Fee wrote in his diary, p 81, regarding Mrs Hertnan’s death:
Her husband, who is dead now, some years, was owner of Roseland, the farm we now occupy.
It was they who christened the place Roseland because of the great number of hedges of wild roses.
References:
Battye Library, research;
- Ruth McGrath notes;
- New Norcia Garrido Letterbook, 1857-1860;
- George Fee diary;
- James Hertnan d. Bunbury 1877, aged 76 Reg. 8472/77; Ann Hertnan d. Bunbury 1892 aged 88 years (Reg. 449/92); Maria Hertnan m. Richard Dillon in 1851 (Reg.386/51 Battye Library microfilm)
Dardanup Heritage Collective 